Decomposition of carbohydrate wastes

Abstract

Carbohydrate waste materials are decomposed to form a gaseous fuel product by contacting them with a transition metal catalyst at elevated temperature substantially in the absence of water.

We claim: 
     
       1. A process, for decomposing carbohydrate waste materials to form a gaseous fuel product consisting essentially of impregnating the waste material with a nonaqueous solution of a catalytic metal from the group consisting of nickel, cobalt, rhodium, iridium, palladium platinum and alloys of copper-nickel and of nickel-iron-chromium and heating to a temperature of about 400° to 900° C. for a period of time sufficient to decompose a substantial portion of the carbohydrate to hydrogen and carbon monoxide in about equal proportions by volume. 
     
     
       2. The process of claim 1 in which the waste material consists essentially of a cellulosic material. 
     
     
       3. The process of claim 2 in which the cellulosic material is wood. 
     
     
       4. The process of claim 1 in which the catalytic metal is nickel or cobalt. 
     
     
       5. The process of claim 1 in which the catalytic metal is a copper-nickel alloy. 
     
     
       6. The process of claim 1 in which the temperature is about 500° to 700° C. 
     
     
       7. In a process for decomposing carbohydrate waste material substantially in the absence of water by heating to a temperature of 400° to 900° C. to produce about equal volumes of hydrogen and carbon monoxide gas, the improvement consisting essentially of impregnating said waste material with a nonaqueous solution of a catalytic metal from the group consisting of cobalt, nickel, rhodium, iridium, palladium, platinum and alloys of copper-nickel and of nickel-iron-chromium, prior to heating to said temperature. 
     
     
       8. The process of claim 7 wherein the catalytic metal is cobalt.